Discover Why Esperanza is the Family Escape You Need
The resort we chose for spring break, not surprisingly, needed to be family-friendly. There is a difference, however, between family-friendly and completely geared toward kids. Striking that balance is never easy, many places have good intentions but fail. Esperanza, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, had been recommended to me over the years, so we went for it. It managed to combine all the touches that would make my husband and me happy: the gorgeous views, great food, and thoughtful service, as well as all the...
Botswana is The Magic Kingdom
Why go to Botswana? Traveling to Botswana for a safari with my family remains one of my top experiences of all time. Having the opportunity to see the wildlife of remote Botswana and travel through the vast inlets of the Okavango Delta was life-altering. My hope is that Botswana stays as untouched and wild as the week we spent there a few years ago. Read on to discover the magic of Africa, Botswana, and the animals of the Okavango Delta. There is no sound I...
Traveling Around the Room
I've come to realize that the best way to travel these days, is through my travel memories. In many cases, those memories take the form of photographs that get stored in albums and tucked away on a shelf. But some of my favorite travel memories are in the form of the things I collected along the way. Due to recent world events, accessing those travel memories is as easy as walking around the house. Maya Angelou wrote, “Every storm runs out of water eventually”. The...
Is San Miguel the World’s Best City? You decide.
Exploring San Miguel de Allende, Mexico / Visit San Miguel de Allende between March and April. That's when the intensely vivid purple Jacaranda trees take over the already majestic landscape. But even if you miss the blooming Jacarandas, you won’t be disappointed. San Miguel is a city that is entirely built around color. Rich ochres, terra cottas, burnt oranges, and lush persimmon dress the Spanish Colonial architecture. They fill every street and passageway with warmth. Throughout the day, light bounces off the colorful stucco walls,...
On and Off the Beaten Path, in Tokyo
'On and Off the Beaten Path, in Tokyo' is the second in a series of monthly articles I’ll be writing for CIRE Travel. CIRE is a luxury vacation, honeymoon, and corporate travel agency, known for 'making impossible arrangements possible'. I couldn't be happier to be a part of a team that is so dedicated to inspiring and organizing travel for their clients. ____________ On and Off the Beaten Path, In Tokyo ‘IRASSHAIMASE,’ sang the three Japanese saleswomen in unison, all with bright smiles, flawless make-up,...
The Best Lunch Spot in Antigua is…
Catherine’s Café, The Best Lunch in Antigua Some days I can hardly remember what I ate for breakfast. On other days, I can’t remember what book I am reading. More often than I’d like to admit, I can’t remember what day of the week it is. What I do remember though, is the best beach lunch I had on the island of Antigua nearly 15 years ago. My husband, our daughter (who was then nine months old), and I, traveled to this charming Caribbean island...
Reykjavík, Iceland: ‘Should I go to the Blue Lagoon?’
The first question anyone would ask when I spoke of our upcoming trip to Reykjavík, Iceland was: ‘Are you going to the Blue Lagoon?’ It would lead one to think that it is the only place worth seeing in the entire country. The Blue Lagoon had not originally been on our hit list, as I thought it would be overcrowded and gimmicky. As it turned out, we ended up arranging it at the last minute, just 12 hours before boarding our flight home to DC....
St Barths is always a good idea
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this post will virtually write itself. With boundless blue skies, and streaks of white clouds that read more watercolor than a photograph, St Barths is one unending photo op after another. To paraphrase a famous quote "St Barths is always a good idea." I couldn't agree more. St. Barthélemy Not more than a speck in the West Indies, St Barths was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. With a population that hovers near 10,000, French-speaking and...
Finding love in Les Baux de Provence
Provence has its own aura, its own colorful, magical, vibe. It was hard to decide where, in all of Provence, we wanted to use as our base. In the end, we chose Les Baux de Provence, and the bucolic hotel Baumanière to stay in. It was truly the most lovely place from which to explore the French countryside, not to mention being one of the best hotels among so many beautiful choices. Bucolic Baumanière, Les Baux de Provence / In Provence, I fell in love...
Sailing Croatia: Why I never took the same trip twice. Until I did.
Sailing Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast / Nearly three years to the day of our first sailing trip along the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia, we found ourselves there again. The same boat, but a new captain, crew, islands, bays, and coves to explore. Not too much had changed there in those three years, and in the best possible way. Swooping seagulls, secluded island villages, schools of iridescent fish, and the gentle flapping of the Croatian flag off the stern of the boat as we motored...